Finding your tattoo
idea

You do not have to arrive at a consultation with a finished drawing. You need to be able to show or explain enough for the tattoo artist to understand the direction, priorities and what you do not want. Your role is to explain what you want, what matters to you personally and what you do not want. The artist’s role is to develop a visual and technically functional solution for your body.

Who is this section for?

This section is intended for people who:

  • want a tattoo but do not yet have a motif
  • have too many unrelated saved images
  • have a motif but do not know what matters to them within it
  • want to use Pinterest, Instagram, Google Images or AI references
  • do not know what to send or explain to a tattoo artist

Separate five different concepts

Desire

Desire is the initial intention or feeling that you want to be tattooed. It does not yet determine what will be on the skin or how the tattoo will look.

Idea

The idea is what you want to express, achieve or experience through the tattoo. It can relate to a feeling, memory, value, character or aesthetic goal.

Motif

The motif is what will be visually recognisable in the tattoo. It may be an animal, plant, object, symbol, character, text or abstract form.

Reference

A reference is an example that shows part of the desired direction. It may show atmosphere, pose, colour, contrast, arrangement of elements or something you do not want.

Design

The design is the concrete solution that connects the idea, motifs, references, body, size, placement and method of execution. It is not the same as the first image you found.

The client brings the desire, personal content, priorities and boundaries. The tattoo artist develops a visually and technically functional solution that can work well on the body.

From desire to a clearer idea

You do not have to solve the motif, size, placement, style and final appearance in advance. You need to clarify what matters to you, what you want to achieve and which boundaries you do not want to cross, then develop the professional part through discussion with the artist.

Locking every detail too early can close the door to a better solution.

When these concepts are mixed together, a found image can easily become a substitute for your own idea. Separating them allows you to preserve what matters to you personally while adapting the execution to the body and the project.

How to use internet images and AI references

Internet images and AI-generated visuals can show atmosphere, pose, colour or direction, but they are not finished designs to be copied onto the body.

Select a few references and explain what you are looking at in each one, what you want to keep and what you do not want.

Style is not the same as the idea

Style is the way an idea will be expressed visually, not the idea itself. The same motif can look completely different in different styles.

A more detailed choice is covered in the separate guide How to choose a tattoo style.

A quick idea check

Before speaking to an artist, check:

  • Can I explain the basic idea in my own words?
  • Do I know what matters most to me within it?
  • Do I know what I do not want and what may be adapted?

What should you prepare for the consultation?

Prepare:

  • a short description of the idea
  • the most important motifs
  • a few selected references
  • an explanation of what you are looking at in each reference
  • what you definitely do not want
  • the approximate placement or body areas you are considering
  • a willingness to adapt the motif, size, placement or composition when the initial version does not work

You do not need to know every professional answer. It is enough for the artist to understand what you are trying to achieve and what matters most to you.

What is the next step?

If the idea is clear enough, continue to From idea to tattoo appointment.

If you are still unsure whether you want to be tattooed at all, return to What to consider before getting a tattoo.

If you have one specific question, start with Frequently asked questions about tattoos.

Related guides

Zoran Pocrnić – Žvaki, Anubis Tattoo / Osijek–Čepin